The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-12

reeHnR IOr Jue VHlCntlnc, winch Hau Uceu
tucked in the same pocket with Miss Smiths
communication, he was soon carrying out all
plans TO pcrfection-dropping 1t upon the
step and running to hidingplace after
violent ring at the bell-not so far, either,
but that he saw the door opened and heard
u cry of surprise, which he recognized as
Cclia's Waiting moment, he came in, with
o great deal of buster over the cold and
snow.
so Jamie, the qucerest thing!" cried Celia.
meeting him at the door, her eyes wildly
bright and a bit of paper waving in her
hand. "Someone rang the door-bcll and left
this on the doorstep, addressed to me-'Miss
G. III. Smith'-as grownup like as you please
or course l thought twas valentine, so l
opened IL, and what do you think' There
was queer, printed slip of paper telling
the national bank to pay mo sl,500-did you
ever hear of such thing"
"Mcrcyw cried Jamie, "struck all Of n
heap as he afterward expressed it, and
catching the draft from her hand. '1've
made mistake! Tain't yours. Gracious!
they may be after me with the officers for
this. How could l be so careless!'
There was nothing to do now but let out
the whole secret and explain the mistake.
"And to think I've left that sour old maid
your pretty valentine and takeu her money
after knocking her down on the street,
too. o dearl its too funny!" and over
wrought Jamie burst into q peal Of laugh
ter: then checked himself to add soberly:
"But it may be more fun than I'd like If she
finds out and sends tho officers after me be-
fore l can get backp'
jamie swung so rapidly from laughter to
dread that Celia was quite bewildered, but
when she did fully understand, her terror
was greater than his.
80, hurry, jamie, hurry and take it back
to her" she cried, almost pushing him into
the street "I'll keep your supper warm,
but do-do go at once!" and, grumbling at
his own stupidity, he obeyed.
Upon asking to see Miss Smith, a few min
utes later, he was conducted to cozy apart
ment back of the drawlng-r room he had seen,
and before the servant could speak, after
lifting the portiere, had an instant's glimpse
Of that lady, with tear-bedimmed eyes, sit
ting before the tiled fire place, the lost val
entiue in her hand She turned impatiently,
"Well, John!" and, as Jamie blunderingly
explained matters, looked from him to the
valentine and back again with puzzled
and-could it be-even disappointed look
upon her face. 1t wasn't possible that she
would rather have that bit of perfumed.
perforated paper, with its lines about
"roses' and ''posies" and Gloves" and
"doves," than draft for $500, but it GER
tainly looked So!
Her face did not, however, retain its
sourest look as she asked: ''Aren't you the
boy who ran into me this morning!"
"Yes, ma am" acknowledged Jamie, smi-
ling in spite of himself.
"And now want to rob mel" she said,
crotv1ipty OF hin, bnf npf q foror;onc1yy ant
he failed to note suspicious CLEAN in her
eyes. $50 your name is Smith," she con-
tinued, not giving him time to answer, "and
your sister has my initials. What is her
given name and vours,"
''Hers is Celia Herbert, ma'am and mine
is James Gay. Twas named for my faith"
"Whatr' she turned upon HIM so suddenly
that the boy retreated step in dismay.
"Celia Herbert, James Gay-my name and
hisW and dropping into q chair she gazed
at jamie with eyes that seemed to burn in
her pale face, so piercing and bright they
were. She motioned Jamie to chair, and,
as the man stepped forward to place it,
turned upon him fercely.
'sJohn, what are you waiting for, Cop
and John promptly disappeared.
Then followed rapid questions and dazed
answers, for how could this lady know
enough to ask:
'Where is your fatherl Is he tall, with
brown eyes and mustache. Does his hair
curll Has he tiny mole on the left side of
his nose! Are his eyebrows straight and
heavy! Is his hand large and strong-and
does he" (here her eyes seemed to look
straight into Jamie's soul) ''does he wear a
narrow, chased ring on his left little
finger?"
EHe-he did ma'am hut-O
'But what!'
"He is dead" Jamie's tone was low and
reverent, but the lady gasped at his words.
Sand your mother!' she whispered.
eyes, ma'am-she, too. Celia and I are
all alone"
She arose and tremblingly took Jamie's
hand in hers, while he was surprised to see
how softened her face seemed.
''James, this is q strange thing My name
is Celia Herbert Smith and James Gay
Smith, your father, was my cousin, the
dearest one had. We quarreled, and he
drifted away-I never knew just what be-
came of him-and to find his children thus
Yes, yes !" she mused, gazing into his face
with far away eyes, sit is his very look-so
resolute and proud-how plainly I can see
1t still! And he gave his little daughter
ny name. James,"-suddenly recollecting
nCTSelI,-'Wncre lS your SlStcT! now uO
you live? Who takes care Of you?"
81 take care of us, ma'am and we live IN
two snug little rooms with the Huffstodts.
They're very nice folks indeed, and he
works in brewery and she makes cakes
for parties. We're very comfortably fixed,
ma'am; and, if you please, I'm afraid Celia
will be frightened If l stay SO long. She'll
think I'm arrested, sure"
Miss G. H. Smith laughed, and the strained,
white look left her face.
~ must get better acquainted with my
cousins and their friends" she said, pleas,
antly, "and, to begin with, want you and
Celia to dine with me tonight. Will you
I'll send the carriage for Celia. Don't re.
fusew as Jamie began to back toward the
door, looking ruefully down at his mud.
stained garments.
"John will fix all that" she said care.
lessly, as she rang the bell, which the man
answered with celebrity which seemed to
| Indicate that he had not been far away.
John, please take my cousin, Master James
Smith, to the bathroom and make him pre-
sentable He will dine with me tonight. u
Jamie followed him, in a dream, and was
80 washed and brushed, and whisked and
perfumed that he scarcely knew himself
when he once more descended to the
library. Twas not long after this before
Celia came, her fair hair waving about her
bright, surprised face, and her cheeks
flushed with all these strange happenings
Then followed more explanations, amid
which dinner was announced-a dinner
which was like bit OF wonderland to the
brother and sister, with its glitter and fra
| GRANGE, its noiseless service and garnished
viands-but though at loss as to just which
knife, fork and glass they were to use, and
quite ''foored," as Jamie would have said
| hy tho scented Gngnr -glasSes and lyater